Door operation and control



Dec. 18, 1951 g, IL R ETAL 2,578,810

DOOR OPERATION AND CONTROL Filed April 29, 148 3 Sheets-Sheet l 9 5 1 f I 11. W K O 1 A; i

if f INVENTORS C/0//A/ f7 tuna Dec. 18, 1951 KILAR g-rAL 2,578,810

DOOR OPERATION AND CONTROL Filed April 29 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 18, 1951 J. F. KILAR ETAL DOOR OPERATION AND CONTROL Filed April 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet IIIIIIII fie. 35

INVENTOR. (/OA/A/ [,6/L/1E- Patented Dec. 18, 1951 DOOR OPERATION AND CONTROL John F. Kilar, Rahway, and John H. Vander Veer,

Westfield, N. J assignors, by mesne assignments, to National Pneumatic 00., Inc., Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application April 29, 1948, Serial No. 24,072

5 Claims. (Cl. 121-44) This invention relates to the operation and control of doors, and particularly to the construction and inter-relationship of the parts constituting the operating and controlling apparatus.

There is developing a trend toward auto matically controlled power operation of doors located in paths traversed by a more or less constant stream of persons as, for example, the aisles and vestibules of railroad cars linked to form a train. The preferred type of power operation involves the use of an engine, or engines, supplied with air under sufficient pressure to swing a railroad car door from a closed position to an open position, and subsequently to return the door to the closed position; but in the application of mechanical power to both the opening and closing phases of the cycle of operation of a swinging door it is necessary to consider a variety of conditions and situations that prevail constantly or occasionally, and it is obviously desirable to render the apparatus capable of adapting itself to all such conditions and situations, with a minimum of eflord on the part of the person or persons desiring passage through the door-way, and with a maximum safety factor inherently present at all times. The present invention provides novel control methods and apparatus adapted to meet such requirements.

'More specifically, the invention provides novel apparatus for applying all the power that is necessary to swing a hinged or'pivoted type of door from the closed to the fully open position and to return its automatically to the closed position after the person who initiated such cycle of operation has passed through the door-way; the only assistance required from such person being the initial act of turning, withdrawing or depressing the handle or other fixture by which the door latch is released.

The invention further provides novel apparatus for preventing application of more than a predetermined amount of pressure upon the door at any stage of its movement, so that a person in the doors path of movement during either the opening or the closing swing, Whether that person be an adult or a child, will not at any time be subjected to pressure or impact of any serious magnitude. In this connection, a novel feature of the invention is the provision of parts so constructed and inter-related as to respond differently to such situations, according to whether the intervention of the obstruc- 2 tion (animate or inanimate) occurs during the opening or during the closing swing of the door.

When an obstruction occurs during the opening swing of the door, the apparatus operates automatically (1) to prevent an increase of opening messuire during maintenance of the obstruction, and (2) to continue the doors swing to the fully open position upon removal of the obstruction; the novel construction of the operating engine being such, however, that the said continuance of the opening swing occurs without objectionable acceleration during its final stage, whereas during the earlier stage of opening movement free acceleration to the predetermined desirable opening speed is assured.

When an obstruction occurs during the clos-v ing swing, on the other hand, the apparatus automatically applies power to the door to reverse its direction of swing; but if reverse swinging is obstructed simultaneously, the apparatus automatically prevents undue pressure in either direction until all obstructions are removed, whereupon the door continues its automatic, un-

accelerated, opening swing and then returns automatically to the closed position.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means for preventing operation of the automatic reversing means just referred to, when the door reaches a position of contact with the door jamb, thus precluding any application of a pressure difierential in the door opening direction, and insuring application of the full closing pressure differential as the door latch moves into the captive position against the opposing resistance of the Weather-stripping or other sealing material surrounding the door frame for air retention purposes; the use of such sealing material being a necessity in many types of railroad cars, particularly where the cars operate with pressurized interiors, as on air-conditioned trains. Thus the pressure applying action of the present invention is instrumental in maintaining full effectiveness of the air retaining elements of an air-conditioned system.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the following further description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings where- Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a swing type door showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and indicates also the range of swing;

Fig. 3 (A and B) is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure applying engine and transmission mechanism;

Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are diagrams indicating four successive stages in the operating cycle;

Fig. 8 is a transverse view along line 8-8 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 .is a diagram of electrical connections.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a door l5 adapted to swing between its two extreme positions, the arc of swing being indicated at [6 in Fig. 2. Swinging of the door is under the control of a switch I! (Fig. 9) operating with the door latch is (Figs. 1, 2, and 8) and a solenoid valve I9 shown in its actual contour in Fig. 2, and also shown schematically in Figs. 4, 5, 6,7, and 9: the valve l9 having a solenoid 2| to which current flows, upon closure of switch H, to initiate motion of a piston assembly located in the cylinder assembly 23, 24, shown in detail in Fig. 3A. Although'closure of switch I! is only momentary, it sets up aholding circuit leading to valve solenoid 2i byway of contacts SI and 92 (Figure 9) adapted to be bridged by a contact 93 of delayed-release relay 90. The circuit to relaywinding 9ll is immediately broken, but contacts 9|, 92 remain bridged" for a preselected number of seconds, sufficient to complete the opening operation of the door. The bridging element93 then drops out of'circuitclosing position, and current-flow to valve solenoid M will then cease. This cessation of current flow to solenoid 2| permits valve l9 to reverse automatically (as by spring pressure) to start the door-closing cycle. -Movement of the piston assembly during both opening and closing 3 cycles is communicated to thedoor l5 through a transmission mechanism comprising a piston connector 26, a forked connecting link- 21, adjustable rods 28 and 29, a compression spring 3|, an adjustable lever 32, a connecting fitting 33, 34, a gear sector 38 carried by said fitting, a meshing gear sector 31, and a pivot-shaft 38 secured to said sector 31 at its center, and having integral therewitha plate'39 (Fig. 1) so that the whole may be mounted detachably near one upper corner of the door. A similarly detachable plate 4| is mounted near a lower corner of the door, and is socketed to receive a pivot bearing stud 42, the latter being anchored to the floor 43.

The door latch mechanism is carried in a recess of the door, between two metal plates 46 and 41 (Figs. 1,2 and 8) to one of which is pivotally connected a handle 48, while the plate 41 pivotally receives one end of a long horizontally disposed bar 49 (shown best in'FigJZ) traversing the width of the door and similarly'hinged to the door at its other end, as indicated at' 5| 'in Fig.2. Any slight 'efiort' exerted on the handle 48, or on any part of the bar 49, is suificient to withdraw latch Hi from its locked position, and the withdrawal of the latch moves switch I! (Fig. 9) to the circuit-closing position. Thisinitiates the automatic cycle of power opening and closing of the door in sequential stages, as will be explained.

The power operation of the door involves application of pressure fluid to the regions of cylinders 23, 24 which lie between two working faces of the piston assembly, and also to the region between 'a third piston face and the'end wall 56 of cylinder 23. The two cylinders 23 and 24 are illustrated as being held together by a coupling 51 threaded to the adjacent cylinder ends, and apertured to permit entry of the p???- 4 sure fluid, at the point 58 to which the supply conduit 59 (Figs. 4 to 7) connects.

Within the cylinders 23, 24 are the piston BI and plunger 62, which piston and plunger cooperate with supply and exhaust ports 58 and 63, respectively, and with each other, to produce the novel control sequences above indicated; the major stages of operation being indicated by the relative positioning of the parts BI and 62 as they progress from the initial position (Figs. 3A and 4) through the successive positions illustrated schematically in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. These successively assumed positions will be described, in sequence; but first it is pertinent to point out that the assembly includes two working chambers 64, for the pressure fluid, the chamber 64 being between the piston faces 61, 68, and the chamber 65 being between piston face H and end wall 56. Communication between chambers 64 and 65 is made possible by the provision of ports 12 and 13, themformer connecting chamber 64 with spring chamber M, and the latter connecting plunger recess 16 with chamber 65; the chamber 65 opening to exhaust port 63 directly, when the parts are in either the Fig. 4 or the Fig. 7 position, but only indirectly-that is, through restricted passage T|-when theparts are in either the Fig. 5 or the Fig. 6 position. The piston 6| carries the usual fluid-sealing parts adjacent each working face, and the plunger 62 carries two sealing discs 8|, 82 engageable with co-operating seating ridges B3, 84, respectively at-different stages in the cycle (see Figs. 5 and 6 forillustrations of these respective stages).

The cycle of operation starts with the door'in the closed position and the piston assembly located to the right as shown in Fig. 3A. The cushioning plunger .62 is in its extended position. Chambers and" 65 are supplied with air under pressure from the source. Because of the area differentials of the'working faces, the piston assembly remains in the Fig. 3A position until air is exhausted from the large cylinder 23 through magnet valve I9. Such exhaust occurs upon closure of switches l1 and 93 (Fig. 9) in sequence, to'energize valve solenoid'2l and thus open valve ill to exhaust position, indicated in Fig. 4. The reservoir pressure permanently maintained in the center of the engine now becomes effective and starts moving the piston to the left. As the piston travels to the left the outer washer comes in contact with the seat in the cap, shown at 83, and air can no longer exhaust through passageway 63, but is diverted and can only be discharged through the restricted hole I! and thence to atmosphere.

As the piston starts to move to the left, air which has been in the hollow member under pressure is also discharged through hole 13 into the large cylinder, and as this air bleeds out of the large cylinder it is replaced by air under pressure entering the hollow member through restricted hole 12.

As the piston, in its leftward movement, reaches the position shown in Fig. 5 the outer washer on the'cushioning plungercovers the seat at B3 and the air under pressure continuing to flow through hole 12, maintains reduced pressure in the large cylinder, even while the air in the large cylinder is exhausting through restricted hole 11. Should the piston continue moving to the left in a normal manner, for a normal door opening movement, the piston movement is restrained from moving too rapidly and is cushioned, by the air being exhausted through .the small hole 11, and as the piston reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, the inner washer will be engaged by the ridge 84 and the flow of air from the hollow member (supplied through hole 12) is stopped.

However, should the door be obstructed during its opening movement, piston 6| will, of course, cease moving to the left until the obstruction is removed. Upon removal of the obstruction the piston will resume leftward movement, but without undue acceleration, hence without any sudden jumping of the door itself. If the piston is be tween the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 positions when the obstruction occurs the removal of the obstruction will permit, first, a resumption of motion of the piston to the left; but before such motion can progress for any appreciable period the piston will have carried plunger 62 (urged by spring 15) into sealing relationship with ridge 83 (the Fig. 5 position) whereupon free exhaust through port 69 is cut off, leaving only the restricted passage 11 available for fluid escape. As a result there is a gradual build-up of pressure in chamber 65 to retard the further leftward motion of the piston 6|, hence the door is unable to accelerate at an objectionably high rate.

Again, if the piston 6| had already reached the Fig. 5 position when the obstruction occurred, there is an immediate building-up of pressure in chamber 65, so that upon release of the obstruction the piston BI is confronted with increased opposition to resumption of travel, hence such resumption occurs at a moderate rate of speed and without any opportunity for objectionable acceleration.

Thus it will be apparent that there can be no undue acceleration, or pumping of the door following withdrawal of an obstruction (animate or inanimate); and this is true whether the obstruction occurs during the earlier or during the later stages of the opening swing of the door.

Closing of the door will occur when contact 93 drops away from contacts 9|, 92 (Fig. 9), to deenergize solenoid 2| and thus move valve l9 to the pressure position indicated schematically in Fig. 7, in which position fluid under pressure enters chamber 65 and acts upon face H of the piston to return it to the door-closed (Fig. 4) position. If, in such return movement, the door l5 encounters an obstruction, spring 3! (Fig. 33) will yield sufliciently to permit closure of switch 95 by striker 94; the latter being adjustably carried by red 29 in such position that it can strike switch 95 only when relative motion (telescopically) occurs between rod 29 and the apertured extension 91 of the yoke 3ll-it being understood the normal thrust transmission is from rod 29' to spring 3! to yoke 30, and thence to lever 32, pivotally received in said yoke.

Closure of switch 95 re-energizes valve solenoid 21 (by way of intervening switch 93 which bridges contacts 9!, 92 whenever current flows momentarily to delayed-release relay 99, because of closure of either switch i! or switch 95) and the resultant opening of cylinder 23'to atmosphere, through valve I9, causes a repetition of the door opening cycle, as previously described. A preselected number oi seconds later (depending upon the adjustment of the release mechanism of relay 99) contact 93 again drops away from contacts 9|, 92, solenoid 2! de-energizes, valve 19 reverses, and the piston assembly moves the door back to the closed position-unless it again meets an obstruction, in which event it re-opens as before.

As the door makes contact with the door jamb, in closing, the spring 3| will again be compressed,

permitting a closure of switch as in the case of any obstruction prior to fully closing. To render the switch 95 ineffective to initiate a reopening cycle at this final stage of door closing we provide a second switch 96 (Figs. 3B and 9) in series with switch 95, the saidswitch 96 being closed at all stages of the door opening and closing strokes with the exception of the very last inch (or fraction thereof) of travel of the links 21, 28. During this final stage of door closingthat is, as the door latch is approaching its keeper a striker 98 carried adjustably on links 21, 28 engages the switch 96 to move it to the circuit opening position. This action precedes, by a very slight interval, the closing of switch 95 by striker 94 occasioned by the resistance offered by the door jamb as the door makes contact therewith. Thus the circuit containing switches 95 and 96 in series is rendered inoperative to effect a re-opening of the door, after the doors closing swing has brought it into proximity to the door jamb.

Moreover, as full line pressure continues to be supplied to cylinder 23, through valve I9, during this final inch of door travel to the fully latched position, there is assured sumcient pressure to overcome any resistance offered by weather stripping or other elements which might otherwise interfere with full latching of the door.

There is thus provided a system of operation and control which incorporates maximum adaptability and safety, under all variations of conditions encountered, and makes possible a realization of the several objectives heretofore enumerated, by use of the methods and means described above, and defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is: V

1. In a door operating system of the type including power means for opening and closing the door, said power means including a pair of aligned cylinders, one large, one small, a piston assembly having one end of relatively large diameter for operation in said large cylinder, an opposite end of relatively small diameter, for operation in said small cylinder, and a connecting tubular portion of somewhat less diameter than said small cylinder, for operation partly in one cylinder and partly in the other, a mechanical linkage connecting said piston assembly with the door to be operated, said large cylinder having fluid pressure connections for delivering pressure fluid to said large cylinder on opposite sides of the large end of said piston assembly, means including a valve in one of said fluid pressure connections for controlling admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to said large cylinder on one side of said piston assembly, means for maintaining continuous fluid pressure in the annular space between the wall of said small cylinder and the wall of said connecting tubular portion, by way of said fluid pressure connections, means for moving said valve to a fluid exhausting position and thereby causing said piston to move in the door opening direction, fluid by-pass means including communicating radial and longitudinal passages in said connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly operative during an obstruction-induced interruption of the doors opening movement to cause continuous flow of fluid through said piston assembly in the direction in which the piston assembly was moving at the time of said interruption, to build up pres sure in said large cylinder, in advance of said piston assembly, and thereby cause said piston assembly to move more slowly for the remainder of the door opening movement following removal of 7 the'obstruction, and a second means responsive 7 to an obstruction-induced interruption of the doors closing movement to move said valve back to the fluid exhausting position and thereby reverse the doors direction of movement.

2. In a door operating system of the type including power means for opening and closing the door, said power means including a pair of aligned cylinders, one large, one small, a piston assembly having one end of relatively large diameter for operation in said large cylinder, an opposite end of relatively small diameter, for operation in said small cylinder and a connecting tubular portion of somewhat less diameter than said small cylinder, for operation partly in one cylinder and partly in the other, a mechanical linkage connecting said piston assemblywith the door to be operated, said large cylinder having fluid pressure connections for delivering pressure fluid to said large cylinder on opposite sides of the large end of said piston assembly, means including a valve in one of said fluid pressure connections for controlling admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to said large cylinder on one side of said piston assembly, means for maintaining continuous fluid pressure in the annular space between the wall of said small cylinder and the wall of said connecting tubular portion, by way of said fluid pressure connections, means for moving said valve to a fluid exhausting position and thereby causing said piston to move in the door opening direction, fluid by-pass means including communicating radial and longitudinal passages in said connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly operative during an obstruction-induced interruption of the doors movement to cause continuous flow of fluid through said piston assembly in the direction in which the piston assembly was moving at the time of said interruption, to build up pressure in said large cylinder in advance of said piston assembly, and thereby cause said piston assembly to move more slowly for the remainder of the door opening movement following removal of the obstruction.

3. In a door operating system of the type including power means for opening and closing the door, said power means including a pair of aligned cylinders, one large, one small, a piston assembly having one end of relatively large diameter for operation in said large cylinder, an opposite end of relatively small diameter, for operation in said small cylinder and a connecting tubular portion of somewhat less diameter than said small cylinder, for operation partly in one cylinder and partly in the other, a mechanical linkage connecting said piston assembly with the door to be operated, said large cylinder having fluid pressure connections for delivering pressure fluid to said large cylinder on opposite sides of the large end of said piston assembly, means including a valve in one of said fluid pressure connections for controlling admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to said large cylinder on one side of said piston assembly, means for maintaining continuous fluid pressure in the annular space between the wall of said small cylinder and the wall of said connecting tubular portion, by way of said fluid pressure connections, means for moving said valve to a fluid exhausting position and thereby causing said pis ton to move in the door opening direction, fluid by-pass means including communicating radial and longitudinal passages in said connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly operative during an obstruction-induced interruption of the doors opening movement to cause continuous flow of fluid through said piston assembly in the direction in which the piston assembly was moving at the time of said interruption, to build up pressure in said large cylinder in advance of said piston assembly, and thereby cause said piston assembly to move more slowly for the remainder of the door opening movement following removal of the obstruction, a tubular exhaust-controlling valve element'slidably carried in the connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly, and resilient means urging said tubular valve element toward exhaust-controlling position.

4. In a door operating system of the type including power means for opening and closing the door, said power means including a pair of aligned cylinders, one large, one small, a piston assembly having one end of relatively large diameter for operation in said large cylinder, an opposite end of relatively small diameter, for operation in said small cylinder and a connecting tubular portion of somewhat less diameter than said small cylinder, for operation partly in one cylinder and partly in the other, a mechanical linkage connecting said piston assembly with the door to be operated, said large cylinder having fluid pressure connections for delivering pressure fluid to said large cylinder on opposite sides of the large end of said piston assembly, means including a valve in one of said fluid pressure connections for controlling admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to said large cylinder on one side of said piston assembly, means for maintaining continuous fluid pressure in the annular space between the wall of said small cylinder and the wall of said connecting tubular portion, by way of said fluid pressure connections, means for moving said valve to a fluid exhausting position and thereby causing said piston to move in the door opening direction, fluid by-pass means including communicating radial and longitudinal passages in said connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly operative during an obstruction-induced interruption of the doors opening movement to cause continuous flow of fluid through said piston assembly in the direction in which the piston assembly was moving at the time of said interruption, to build up pressure in said large cylinder in advance of said piston assembly, and thereby cause said piston assembly to move more slowly for the remainder of the door opening movement following removal of the obstruction, a tubular exhaust-controlling valve element slidably carried in the connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly, and resilient means urging said tubular valve element toward exhaust-controlling position, said resilient means also being carried in said connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly.

5. In a door operating system of the type including power means for opening and closing the door, said power means including a pair of aligned cylinders, one large, one small, a piston assembly having one end of relatively large diameter for operation in said large cylinder, an opposite end of relatively small diameter, for operation in said small cylinder and a connecting tubular portion of somewhat less diameter than said small cylinder, for operation partly in one cylinder and partly in the other, a mechanical linkage connecting said piston assembly with the door to be operated, said large cylinder having fluid pressure connections for delivering pressure fluid to said large cylinder on opposite sides of the large end of said piston assembly, means including a valve in one of said fluid pressure connections for controlling admission and exhaust of pressure fluid to said large cylinder on one side of said piston assembly,

means for maintaining continuous fluid pressure in the annular space between the wall of said small cylinder and the wall of said connecting tubular portion, by way of said fluid pressure connections, means for moving said valve to a fluid exhausting position and thereby causing said piston to move in the door opening direction, fluid by-pass means including communicating radial and longitudinal passages in said connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly operative during an obstruction-induced interruption of the doors opening movement to cause continuous flow of fluid through said piston assembly in the direction in which the piston assembly was moving at the time of said interruption, to build up pressure in said large cylinder in advance of said piston assembly, and thereby cause said piston assembly to move more slowly for the remainder of the door opening movement following removal of the obstruction, a tubular exhaust-controlling valve element slidably carried in the connecting tubular portion of said piston assembly, and resilient means urging said tubular valve element toward exhaust-controlling position, said tubular valve element also having communicating radial and 10 longitudinal passages constituting part of said fluid by -pass means.

JOHN F. KILAR. JOHN H. VANDER VEER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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